Gregor has been a part of the ASISTIM team for nearly 8 years as a Senior Flight Dispatcher in the Flight Operation Control Center.
We chatted with Gregor to understand his journey to becoming a flight dispatcher and his personal experiences.
What is your job role?
As a flight dispatcher, it is my responsibility to create flight plans, manage CTOT`s (Calculated Take Off Time), and ensure that planes leave and arrive on time while considering factors like aircraft performance, payload, en route winds, weather turbulence, airspace restrictions, airport circumstances, etc.
I collaborate closely with the other members of the flight crew, such as the pilots and air traffic controllers, to give them crucial information about the flight and to support them when decisions must be made that are impacted by inclement weather, technical issues with the aircraft, ATC strikes, etc.
How did you become a Flight Dispatcher?
In 2008, I decided to apply for the German army and attended a three-day-long assessment in which I was tested in a variety of computer, athletic, -related duties.
The test revealed that I had good planning and multitasking skills, and based on that assessment, the German army offered me a job as a flight Ops Officer with 2 months of on-the-job training covering Basic Aviation courses such as WX, principles of flight, Air law, etc.
This evaluation was good in the sense that it gave me the ability to identify my areas of strength and determine the jobs that would best utilize them.
While serving in the army as a Flights Operations Officer, I had the opportunity to interact closely with flight dispatchers, which sparked my interest in the profession.
As a result, when I made the decision to leave the army after seven years, by chance, I came across a job posting at ASISTIM that offered a 1-year on-the-job flight dispatch training program with the potential for employment afterward.
So I started my quest to become trained as a flight dispatcher at ASISTIM, obtained the FAA US certification in addition (which is not required for Germany), and then got offered a full-time position to work for ASISTIM as a flight dispatcher.
What do you like about being a Flight Dispatcher?
I like that by making sure the flight takes off and lands on time, I am taking care of the passengers. It also feels great to know that my efforts contribute to the crew's problem-solving and lessen their workload.
Another good thing about being a flight dispatcher is that no day that is the same day. Every day we face a new set of challenges, situations, and problems that need to be solved, making the job somewhat interesting.
What kind of skills or personality traits do you think are essential to have, as a Flight Dispatcher?
Multitasking
I think it is important to be able to multitask. To do this, you need to know the flight monitoring tools and airline procedures by heart, which will enable you to execute your tasks quickly and accurately. Setting Priorities and knowing which job should be completed first is also crucial so that the flight is on time.
Situation awareness
Situational awareness helps you to avoid any potential threats while increasing efficiency throughout the entire process. In order to stay one step ahead and be ready to confront problems head-on, having a proactive working attitude helps.
In contrast to receiving an emergency call and feeling anxious, if you are proactive and aware of your surroundings, such as when the weather changes for the worse, you would be able to swiftly handle the problem situation or even prevent difficulties from occurring.
Prepare in advance
Try to prepare a plan B for unanticipated circumstances. As a result, when the crew calls with a problem, you already have two solutions available to solve the problem, rather than saying, "Oh, I didn't see, I will call you back!" It is better to organize and plan beforehand!
Problem solving
Sometimes problems can occur out of the blue, so as a flight dispatcher, it's crucial to have the ability to think quickly and come up with solutions.
Accuracy
Try to be accurate and avoid making mistakes. You need to be free from time constraints in order to accomplish that. You should also check the manuals again if you forgot something, and ask your coworkers for clarification on any issues.
A quick tip: even if you enter new data into the software program, double-check that it is present in the system by renewing the page and validating it before moving on to the next stage.
Communication
It is also important to be able to have a strong command of English and clear communication skills with others, including pilots and air traffic controllers, since you must work together to find solutions to issues like reducing delays.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to take responsibility and make a decision when you have all the information you need. Being a new flight dispatcher can feel a bit overwhelming in the beginning, but it will get better with time and experience.
Any favorite or memorable moments during your career as a flight dispatcher?
Once I had to monitor a Special flight from Cape Town to Antarctica. It was a special flight because there is a point on the path where no return is calculated.
Once you've reached "the point of no return," you can't go back, since there isn't enough fuel and when the weather is below the landing minimum, planes cannot land. Therefore, once the aircraft reaches the no point of return, it must land, and because of that, we had to communicate the weather every 30 minutes.
Fortunately, everything turned out well and proceeded without a hitch. Witnessing the plane touch down safely in the Antarctic was a thrilling experience.
What advice would you give to someone starting out in your area of the business?
For young students, take an internship to determine whether working as a flight dispatcher is a suitable fit for you if you want to pursue this career.
Then try to see if there are any on-the-job training opportunities at the company, as I have done with ASISTIM Airlines.
However, due to the fact, these kinds of on-the-job training opportunities may not be always available, you can also take matters into your own hands by enrolling in an Initial Flight Dispatch Training course, which lasts about 4 weeks and provides you with the necessary job knowledge as well as a certificate which you can use to apply for job openings.
As for flight dispatchers who are just starting off, I would say, don't be afraid to ask for help, we’ve probably been in your shoes.
Always strive to better your skills, and make sure to renew your knowledge through adequate training sessions where you can meet other dispatchers and trainers who share their knowledge.
And last, don't worry if you make a mistake, mistakes do happen. Just be careful you learn from it and work to prevent repeating the same errors.
Where do you hope to see yourself in 10 years?
In addition to my responsibilities as a flight dispatcher, I was in charge of training the new flight dispatchers and contributed to upgrading the training materials' presentation at ASISTIM.
This experience gave me a strong desire to share my knowledge to help other dispatchers advance in their careers. On that note, I hope to see myself continue to work as a flight dispatcher while also having the opportunity to use my expertise to train new dispatchers.
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A Flight Dispatcher?
ASISTIM is a leading provider of flight operation services for airlines, giving them the freedom and flexibility to develop and expand their operational environment.
For more information on our current flight dispatch career opportunities, please contact ASISTIM Airline Service, and for Flight Dispatch Trainings please contact ASISTIM Flight Dispatch Academy.
